Bits and parcels

Today was just that. 

A parcel arrived mid-morning. (Shortly after I had pulled the fridge out and cleaned behind it looking for the source of that odd smell I'm not liking. The parcel was a welcome interruption.) The packaging was great fun.

It contained varied things, least of all shoes for the littlest lady whose spending alot of time soles down.

Books of words, words, and more words for Dada. But anything is exciting when you've had the chance to open the parcel.

And some books for Mama, like this one 'Aran knitting' by Alice Starmore. I'm not up to knitting an Aran but I'm interested and ready to learn.

We were doing alright; a warm fire to sit by 

and still some birthday cake to go around,

mittens from Mama's childhood called in to action(apparently necessary for catching a cat?!?),

Paper Sharks and phones, keeping us in touch with those we love whilst being eaten alive...
Mine rang all day.


And somehow we made it to a special cousin's 5th birthday party. 


Whew. 

Pokey toe

We call these his pokey toe sandals. For obvious reasons.


If I try to tuck that toe in, put them on him ever so gently ensuring it's safe and warm...boom. I get told off, 'cause that toe knows there's a whole world out there to see.
It's funny. When this first began that wee toe just peeped through but as he's grown it's become a statement. No one ever told me being a Mum could provide such hearty entertainment. 


Sadly, these sandals are here for one season only and they may have played to their last audience now that the weather is more consistently cool. (And yup, those are painted toe nails. Trimming nails becomes an activity if you paint them afterward and this Autumn child likes oranges 'like fire', many different tones of orange.) Bless.


Oh, how we love those pokey toe sandals.


ps. Happy Birthday Mr Peapot, Mr Poopaa.

The bed stash: his

No kidding, these are the things he choses to sleep with as a two year old. 


Monkey and the dinosaur are both gifts from a special Tanti. The football boots and googles, well, what can I say, and that blue lycra is his beach hat. Sometimes there's a book, sometimes his Jeremy Fisher (from the Beatrix Potter stories), he too, has a couple of special pillows, and blankets. Sometimes he stands a dinosaur or two on the wooden chest at the head of the bed to watch over him, sometimes he tucks that T-rex in under a facewasher so he too can get a good night's rest.


These stashes change and vary in size but they always cause Mama to smile to herself. I get a peek into who they are and how they see the world right now.


Bless.

Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

Sweet sweater dress

I finished the Sweet Sweater Dress I was making for Winter. Ravelry link

I'm undecided about this dress. I love the colours and the style is so simple. Maybe I didn't match my yarn choice with my project choice, however it fits nicely and is a great length for a girl who gets about quickly on her knees.

I'm learning something from each of these projects I embark upon. I knitted this in the round to the armholes which is quicker and means the stripe is the same on the front and back (up to the armholes) however it also means each band of colour is thinner. All things worth considering and I am glad to be learning little by little. 

And all the while I am able to watch this little one go about her daily business dressed in love from her Mama. It feels good.

One busy day

Here's what we did on that one last day of our longest weekend ever.

We still had many blown eggs and the kids were keen so we did it any way. And Dada joined in too.

Pasta for the freezer, 'cause we're all out.

And that girl o' mine who just loves playing with colour kept asking 'What else can we dye?' Having seen that Amanda over at SouleMama had dyed some fabric with the same dyes she used for their eggs, off to the rag bag I went, moved the dyes to bigger bowls and set the kids up outside. Oh, how they loved it. They made great bed clothes for the dolls that night. Snuggled in their rainbows, they went happily off to sleep. 

tradition and remembrance

This Easter break has ended up being five days for many of us this year. Almost a week, wow. 

It's felt like a real holiday. 

We finally got to hanging the eggs on Sunday morn. Along with discovering what might've bee left to surprise us.

A bit of hunting and gathering. And those not quite up to the chocolate colourful treats just did their own style of gathering.

Another batch of hot cross buns...maybe the last.

Easter Monday this year fell on ANZAC day. Yesterday we made ANZAC biscuits. Eaten straight out of the oven, warm and soft with whipped cream on top. They tasted quite like butterscotch pudding. 

And another whole day to go.